There's a First Time for Everything

Growing up without TV, movies - no TV, we read a lot of books and had a lot of books read to us.  We also had to eat a lot of bananas.  I now don't really consider myself a big reader and I don't like bananas.  Nothing on my upbringing, I've just found I don't like to sit still long enough to finish a book, and bananas make me gag.  Regardless, whilst growing up we listened to a lot of The Berenstain Bears.  Papa and Mama Bear sure did have a lot to say about the world, but one thing that really stuck with me was something Papa Bear said.  "There's a first time for everything."  There was a first time I listened to a book and a first time I had a banana.  Everything I've done has had a first time.  There's many more things I want to do in life and those first times haven't come yet.

This last school year was filled with a lot of "first times".

First Time.  .  .
Carter went to school.
I was a principal.
Miles was alone without his brother.
Carter learned to read and write.
I learned how to make my skin thicker.
I had pink eye.  (Last day of school, who knew)
Carter got a Green Card.
I wrote a Suspension Letter.

Carter and Mom's first day of school!

Carter's final days of Kindergarten!

This list goes on and on.  Overall, it was an outstanding year.  I mean outstanding.  We are so lucky to have such an amazing elementary school for Carter to attend.  In fact, our entire district is remarkable.  We are relatively newly unified and we were recently named the #2 school district in CA based on "bang for your buck".  Test scores, class sizes, and median home values.  Pretty good considering we lost to a wealthy Bay Area school district.

We couldn't have asked for a funnier or more compassionate teacher to introduce Carter to the next twelve years of public school.  Thank you Mr. Merrihew.

I'm sure that year two will be full of firsts.  (That's right, I just signed another one year contract.  Admin contracts are normally written in one to three year increments. )  I can't wait to see what fun awaits for Carter in 1st grade, Miles in his last year at Eileen's, and myself in my second year.  However, for now.  I'm looking forward to celebrating ten years of marriage to my best friend in the entire world.  We're feeling guilty leaving our kids for eight days, but there's a first time for everything.  I'm running 230 miles this weekend with 11 of my running buddies and then it's off to Cabo we go.

We've already started our summer off with more firsts.  We've hosted an English "football" coach for a week.

Jake's been a delight and he's had a few firsts of his own here in Scott Valley.  Cheers to a summer of firsts!